The Pirelli 2016 calendar is unlike any you've ever seen before. Where the iconic calendar traditionally features top supermodels, mostly in the nude, the 43rd edition celebrates 13 women successful in art, writing, philanthropy, filmmaking and sport instead. The result? A line-up that sees the likes of Amy Schumer, Serena Williams and Patti Smith posing for the most beautiful of photographs.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz shot the calendar, and spoke during a press conference of how the concept came about. "Pirelli came to me and told me they wanted to shift this year to something different, she said.

"I made the suggestion that they do women performance artists or women comedians, almost a take-off. I just thought of women I admired and I didn't let anyone in the studio from Pirelli. It became a very strong set of very simple portraits… No one was supposed to look like they tried in these pictures."

Holding the December page, Amy was asked by Annie to pose nude ironically, as if she didn't know that everyone else in the shoot was fully clothed. "She got the whole concept completely, Annie explained. "She's so bright. She was willing to play that role. I was worried for her; I said, 'Are you self-conscious?' [Amy] said, 'Are you kidding? I love my body.'"

Amy also tweeted an entirely wonderful message in response to the shoot, below: